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Name:
 Zhou Xuming
Subject:
 Evolutionary Biology of mammals, Aging, genomics, Phylogenetics
Tel/Fax:
 +86-10-64807163  / 
E-mail:
 zhouxuming@ioz.ac.cn
Address:
 Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, P.R. China
More:
 Group of Animal functional evolution and adaptation      
Resume:

After earning my PhD from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 2014—where my dissertation received the Academy’s Distinguished PhD Award—I pursued postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School. In 2018, I returned to CAS as a full professor and now lead the Animal Function Adaptation and Evolution Laboratory at the Institute of Zoology. I also serve as an adjunct professor and PhD supervisor at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). My laboratory is housed within CAS’s Research Building, a hub for cutting-edge work in zoology, conservation biology, systematics, and stem cell biology.

Research Interests:

My research, grounded in evolutionary biology and computational methods, bridges conservation biology, adaptive evolution, and aging. Since 2011, I have focused on mammalian comparative biology, particularly ecological and genetic adaptations. This work has yielded key insights, such as identifying adaptive genetic mechanisms in endangered mammals (e.g., snub-nosed monkeys, baiji dolphins), pioneering methods to evaluate coronavirus susceptibility across mammals, and decoding longevity-associated genomes in organisms like naked mole rats and bats.

Building on these foundations, my current work explores how environmental adaptations shape lifespan in mammals. Our findings reveal that group-living species exhibit extended longevity and faster evolutionary transitions to long-lived states compared to solitary species, highlighting a deep interplay between sociality and lifespan evolution. Notably, we observe organ-specific variation in selection pressures on longevity genes and identify methionine restriction-related pathways as shared targets of natural selection and artificial lifespan interventions. These discoveries suggest that lifespan regulation arises via polygenic, indirect selection, where adaptive genetic changes inadvertently "hitchhike" through populations, creating non-random longevity effects. To test this evolutionary framework empirically, my lab is developing strategies to disentangle how adaptive substitutions collectively influence lifespan—a pursuit that promises novel insights into the molecular drivers of longevity.

Awards and Honors:

2023      Outstanding scientific and technological workers awards, The Society for Ecological of China

2019      The Second Prize of Natural Science Award, Hunan Province, China

2018     Youth scientist awards in Ocean Biology, BGI and Qingdao Government, Qingdao, China

2015      Excellent Thesis of Doctor's Degree in Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

2013      Excellent Thesis of Master's Degree in Jiangsu Province, China

2013     Travel award for IMC11, The International Society for Mammals

2012      Excellent Thesis of Master's Degree in Nanjing Normal University, China

2011      Excellent Young Researchers in Jiangsu Zoological Society, China

2008      Excellent Thesis of Bachelor's Degree in Anhui Normal University, China

Professional Activities:

Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Vice director

Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Academic committee

Mol. Bio. & Evol. Associated editor

Zoological Research Member of editor Board

Genes Member of editor Board

Frontiers in Bioinformatics Reviewing editor

Journal of Biology < in Chinese > Member of editor Board

Chinese Journal of Zoology < in Chinese > Member of editor Board

Acta Theriological Sinica < in Chinese > Member of editor Board

The Society for Animal Ecology of China Secretary in general

Research Grants:

Chief investigator for grants supported by Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, and Beijing Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Scholars.

Selected Publications:

独立及末位通讯作者论文：

  1. Dai Y, Pan R, Pan Q, Wu X, Cai Z, Fu Y, Shi C, Sheng Y, Li J, Lin Z, Liu G, Zhu P, Li M, Li G*, Zhou X*. Single-cell profiling of the amphioxus digestive tract reveals conservation of endocrine cells in chordates. Sci Adv. 2024; 10(51):eadq0702.
  2. Hu C, Liu G, Zhang Z, Pan Q, Zhang X, Liu W, Li Z, Li M, Zhu P, Ji T, Garber PA, Zhou X*. Genetic linkage disequilibrium of deleterious mutations in threatened mammals. EMBO Rep. 2024; 25(12):5620-5634.
  3. Liu G#, Pan Q#, Zhu P#, Guo X, Zhang Z, Li Z, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Wang J, Liu W, Hu C, Yu Y, Wang X, Chen W, Li M, Yu W, Liu X, Seim I, Fan G, Zhou X*. Comparative Genomics Provides Insights into Adaptive Evolution and Demographics of Bats. Mol Biol Evol. 2024; 41(12):msae208.
  4. Du J#, Liu W#, Li M#, Li Z, Li X, Dai Y, Liu G, Wang X, Zhu P, Gladyshev VN, Zhou X*. Comparative time-series multi-omics analyses suggest H1. 2 involvement in anoxic adaptation and cancer resistance. PLoS Biol. 2024;22(8):e3002778.
  5. Liu G, Pan Q, Dai Y, Wang X, Li M, Zhu P, Zhou X*. Phylogenomics of Afrotherian mammals and improved resolution of extant Paenungulata. Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2024;195:108047.
  6. Liu G, Pan Q, Du J, Zhu P, Liu W, Li Z, Wang L, Hu C, Dai Y, Zhang X, Zhang Z, Yu Y, Li M, Wang P, Wang X, Li M, Zhou X*. Improved mammalian family phylogeny using gap-rare multiple sequence alignment: A timetree of extant placentals and marsupials. Zool Res. 2023;44(6):1064-1079.
  7. Zhu P#, Liu W#, Zhang X, Li M, Liu G, Yu Y, Li Z, Li X, Du J, Wang X, Grueter CC, Li M*, Zhou X*. Correlated evolution of social organization and lifespan in mammals. Nat Commun. 2023;14(1):372.
  8. Li M#, Du J#, Liu W, Li Z, Lv F, Hu C, Dai Y, Zhang X, Zhang Z, Liu G, Pan Q, Yu Y, Wang X, Zhu P, Tan X, Garber PA, Zhou X*. Comparative susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV across mammals. ISME J. 2023; 23:1-12.
  9. Liu W#, Zhu P#, Li M, Li Z, Yu Yang, Liu G, Du J, Wang X, Yang J, Tian R, Seim I, Kaya A, Li M, Li M, Gladyshev NV, Zhou X*. Large-scale across species transcriptomic analysis identifies genetic selection signatures associated with longevity in mammals. EMBO J. 2023; e112740.
  10. Li X#, Wang P#, Pan Q, Liu G, Liu W, Omotoso O, Du J, Li Z, Yu Y, Huang Y, Zhu P, Li M, Zhou X*. Chromosome-level Asian elephant genome assembly and comparative genomics of long-lived mammals reveal the common substitutions for cancer resistance. Aging Cell. 2023; e13917.
  11. Omotoso O, Gladyshev V, Zhou X*. Lifespan Extension in Long-lived Vertebrates Rooted in Ecological Adaptation. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021;9:704966.
  12. Zhu P, Garber P, Wang L, Li M, Belov K, Gillespie T, Zhou X*. Comprehensive Knowledge of Reservoir Hosts is Key to Mitigating Future Pandemics. Innovation. 2020;1(3):100065.

第一作者论文：

  1. Zhou X, Dou Q, Fan G, Zhang Q, Sanderford M, Kaya A, Johnson J, Karlsson E, Tian X, Mikhalchenko A, Kumar S, Seluanov A, Zhang Z, Gorbunova V, Liu X, Gladyshev V*. Beaver and Naked Mole Rat Genomes Reveal Common Paths to Longevity. Cell Rep. 2020; 32:107949.
  2. Zhou X*. Thoughts on Convergence Science of high-risk animals responsible for zoonotic epidemics. Scichina. 2020; doi: 10.1360/TB-2020-0372.
  3. Zhou X#, Guang X#, Sun D#, Xu S#, Li M, Seim I, Jie W, Yang L, Zhu Q, Xu J, Gao Q, Kaya A, Dou Q, Chen B, Ren W, Li S, Zhou K, Gladyshev VN, Nielsen R*, Fang X*, Yang G*. Population genomics of finless porpoises reveal an incipient cetacean species adapted to freshwater. Nat Commun. 2018;9(1):1276.
  4. Zhou X#, Sun D#, Guang X#, Ma S, Fang X, Mariotti M, Nielsen R, Gladyshev VN*, Yang G*. Molecular Footprints of Aquatic Adaptation Including Bone Mass Changes in Cetaceans. Genome Biol Evol. 2018;10(3):967-975.
  5. Zhou X#*, Meng X#, Liu Z#, Chang J#, Wang B#, Li M#, Wengel PO, Tian S, Wen C, Wang Z, Garber PA, Pan H, Ye X, Xiang Z, Bruford MW, Edwards SV, Cao Y, Yu S, Gao L, Cao Z, Liu G, Ren B, Shi F, Peterfi Z, Li D, Li B, Jiang Z, Li J, Gladyshev VN, Li R*, Li M*. Population Genomics Reveals Low Genetic Diversity and Adaptation to Hypoxia in Snub-Nosed Monkeys. Mol Biol Evol. 2016;33(10):2670-81.
  1. Zhou X, Seim I, Gladyshev VN*. Convergent evolution of marine mammals is associated with distinct substitutions in common genes. Sci Rep. 2015;5:16550.
  2. Zhou X, Sun F, Xu S, Yang G*, Li M*. The position of tree shrews in the mammalian tree: Comparing multi-gene analyses with phylogenomic results leaves monophyly of Euarchonta doubtful. Integr Zool. 2015;10(2):186-98.
  3.  Zhou X#, Wang B#, Pan Q#, Zhang J, Kumar S, Sun X, Liu Z, Pan H, Lin Y, Liu G, Zhan W, Li M, Ren B, Ma X, Ruan H, Cheng C, Wang D, Shi F, Hui Y, Tao Y, Zhang C, Zhu P, Xiang Z, Jiang W, Chang J, Wang H, Cao Z, Jiang Z, Li B, Yang G, Roos C, Garber PA, Bruford MW, Li R*, Li M*. Whole-genome sequencing of the snub-nosed monkey provides insights into folivory and evolutionary history. Nat Genet. 2014;46(12):1303-10.
  4.  Zhou X#, Sun F#, Xu S#, Fan G, Zhu K, Liu X, Chen Y, Shi C, Yang Y, Huang Z, Chen J, Hou H, Guo X, Chen W, Chen Y, Wang X, Lv T, Yang D, Zhou J, Huang B, Wang Z, Zhao W, Tian R, Xiong Z, Xu J, Liang X, Chen B, Liu W, Wang J, Pan S, Fang X, Li M, Wei F, Xu X, Zhou K, Wang J*, Yang G*. Baiji genomes reveal low genetic variability and new insights into secondary aquatic adaptations. Nat Commun. 2013;4:2708.
  5.  Zhou X, Xu S, Xu J, Chen B, Zhou K, Yang G*. Phylogenomic analysis resolves the interordinal relationships and rapid diversification of the laurasiatherian mammals. Syst Biol. 2012;61(1):150-64.
  6.  Zhou X, Xu S, Yang Y, Zhou K, Yang G*. Phylogenomic analyses and improved resolution of Cetartiodactyla. Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2011;61(2):255-64.
  7.  Zhou X, Xu S, Zhang P, Yang G*. Developing a series of conservative anchor markers and their application to phylogenomics of Laurasiatherian mammals. Mol Ecol Resour. 2011;11(1):134-40.